Services and Price List
It all starts when you purchase your guitar:
1) Straight out of the box from the factory: - then you will need a full setup - why? because manufacturers will set the action (string height) higher to prevent any fret buzz, and, in many cases, the Bridge Radius will not be set correctly to the Neck Radius. This will affect the playability and the intonation of your Guitar. Also, the neck relief may need adjusting, which I suspect will be necessary. Further, the nut action height will probably not be cut to the correct size…Now; a word of advice about the importance of correct nut adjustment:
1) It Governs many different things, the action at the first fret, whether it will be hard to play, or easy to play. It impacts intonation at the first fret, if the nut slots are too high, then, the first position can play sharp.
2) It governs tuning stability. If the slots are too tight, the strings will bind, causing erratic tuning. If the slots are too loose, string buzz can occur.
So, cutting the nut correctly is very important.
2) Second-hand: The previous owner may have had settings and string gauges that are not suitable for your style of playing, and the action may be too high or too low for you. Also, it may have been subject to storage and humidity variances. As for “New Guitars,” many of the above aspects must be addressed.
Now, just a couple of real examples as to why it is important to have a full setup:
A new Aria Pro II guitar straight out of the box came to me for a setup, on inspection, the first problem identified was that there was no relief in the neck which meant that the guitar was virtually unplayable following a correct setup as no action adjustment could be carried out until the truss rod was adjusted, (Hence once again the action had been setup high at manufacture).Two: The bridge radius was not set to the neck radius, so this would result in poor string alignment heights. Three: the nut slots were not cut at all, meaning that the nut had the initial string slots, but no adjustment had been made, and this would mean very high action and intonation problems in the first position. Four: the frets were unseated from the 12th fret to the 22nd fret, having tried to use the fret press to seat them, I eventually had to remove them, and noticed that the frets had not been glued in, (Note: Not all manufacturers glue the frets in, however the majority do). So this would normally be an extra cost. However, on this occasion, I did not charge as it was a manufacturing quality issue and not the client's fault. Five: The fretboard was exceptionally dry and needed 3 treatments of lemon oil to rehydrate it. This was no doubt a contributory factor to the frets unseating in conjunction with the original poor quality control during the fretting process. Six: Intonation had to be adjusted. Seven: Pickup heights were too low and had to be raised to correct heights.
A new ESP EC 1000 straight out of the box came for a full setup: 1) Too little neck relief and needed adjustment, 2) Bridge radius not set to fretboard radius, requiring adjustment, 3) The string action was very high and had to be adjusted to allow suitable playability. 4) Nut slots had to be cut to the correct size and height. 5) Intonation was way off and had to be adjusted correctly. 6) Pickups were too low and required raising.
So, as you can see, your guitar must be setup correctly. I strongly suggest that, when buying a guitar from your local musical instrument shop ask them for a full setup. If you are buying a guitar online from a guitar shop, ask for a full setup, otherwise, take it to your local reputable guitar tech for a full setup once you take delivery.
Price List
Effective: 01/02/2026
I will provide you with a quote for the work once I have seen the instrument and before any work commences. The prices below should be used a guide only.
There is a £35 minimum charge for guitar repairs.
No work will be done on the instrument without details of the job and cost being agreed with you in advance.
If the work you require is not listed, please ask me for a personal quotation. (Please note: Re-finishing, e.g., full Re-spray/partial, will take approximately 8-10 weeks). This will be based on my hourly rate of £50 per hour plus the cost of any materials required.
All work to be paid for on completion of the job.
Please note: Items not collected within 10 days from notification of job completion will incur £3 per day storage fees until the day of collection.
Set-Up
Setup electric without tremolo: £70 (Includes new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup electric with Tremolo: £90 (Includes new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup electric with Floyd Rose tremolo/Bigsby/Wilkinson: (additional costs may be incurred if shims required on the Floyd Rose due to extra working time): £90 (Includes new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup acoustic: £70 (Includes new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup 12 String acoustic £120 (Includes new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup Classical: £70 (Includes new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup 4 string bass: £70 (Plus cost of new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup 5 String Bass: £80 (Plus cost of new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup 4 string Banjo £50 (Includes new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup 5 string Banjo £60 (Includes new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Setup Ukelele £50 (Includes new strings of your choice or my recommendation).
Fretwork
Complete fret dress and setup: £160
Partial fret dress and setup: £120
Re-fret Rosewood unbound fingerboard and setup: £220
Re-fret Ebony unbound/bound and setup £230
Re-fret bound fingerboard and setup: £220
Re-fret maple fingerboard and setup: £280
Partial re-fret and setup: £ 150
Miscellaneous work
Reset neck angle (bolt on necks only) and setup: £110
New nut (moulded) electric / acoustic / bass / Banjo /Ukelele including set up: £120
New nut (uncut blank) electric / acoustic / bass including set up: £130
New nut brass including set up: £130
New bridge electric / bass including set up: £130
New saddle acoustic including setup: £130
Electronics
Replacement pickup (same size, no routing): £70 each + cost of parts – if not supplied
Replacement pickup (different size requiring routing): £70 + cost of parts– if not supplied
Tremolo installation Floyd Rose / Bigsby / Wilkinson: £70 + Hourly rate (£50)
Broken headstock: £240 plus lacquer costs (includes full setup on completion of repair.
General damage including cracks / dents / dinks / scratches etc. From £35 then hourly rate (£50) dependent on damage.
New pots / switches / sockets etc. Solid body from £50 plus parts then hourly rate (£50)
New pots / switches / sockets etc. Hollow body from £80 plus parts then hourly rate (£50)
Electrical repairs / modifications including rewires etc. solid body from £50 plus parts then hourly rate (£50).
Electrical repairs / modifications including rewires etc. solid Hollow body from £80 plus parts then hourly rate (£50).
Phone: + 44 07365 109796, ask for Kev Cooper.
Email: elsdonguitartech@gmail.com
5 Elsdon Road, Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffs ST17 9PY United Kingdom
Elsdon Guitar Tech Limited, Company Registration Number: 165050205, registered in England and Wales. Registered Office Address: 5 Elsdon Road, Burton Manor, Stafford, ST17 9PY.
